Published by Primary Source Microfilm

"Puttick & Simpson operated at a time of unprecedented activity in the collecting of printed and manuscript music, literature and works of art. These catalogues will provide an invaluable and hitherto neglected source for all researchers." -- Arthur Searle, Curator of Music Manuscripts at the British Library, London

Previous title: Literature, Music and Art: The Annotated Sale Catalogues of Puttick and Simpson

Puttick and Simpson was considered the leading London auction house for works of art, literature and printed and manuscript music. These annotated catalogs offer a unique view of collectors, collecting and contemporary cultural values, and enable researchers to determine the provenance of individual works.

Giving details of the seller, the buyer and the price for each item, these auctioneers' catalogs are a vital resource for the bibliographer and historian. Tracing the history of famous individual manuscripts, books, musical instruments and works of art, these catalogs also record lesser-known items, or those that have since disappeared. In some cases catalog descriptions are the only firm evidence that a manuscript or book actually existed. The catalogs also provide an important record of the contents of the major collections being sold.

Frank Marcham's 1928 typescript Alphabetical List of some of the Principal Sales of Literary Property, Music and Works of Art Conducted by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson--1846-1870 is reproduced on the first reel of the collection.

Part One, 1846-1856: 22 reels
Part Two, 1856-1863: 32 reels
Part Three, 1864-1867: 22 reels
Part Four, 1867-1871: 20 reels

Complete Collection: 96 reels